Annual walk for Muscular Dystrophy
Published Friday June 27th, 2008
The region celebrates the success of five children who have surpassed the odds, and works to increase awareness about the disease
The Sixth Annual Muscular Dystrophy Walk took place at Centennial Park on June 22. Its goal is to raise awareness and funds towards research in the hopes of finding a cure someday.
There is presently no cure for Muscular Dystrophy. Muscular Dystophy Canada's website (www.muscle.ca) explains that it is a "progressive weakness of the voluntary muscles that control body movement. Over time, one may lose the ability to walk, speak, and ultimately breathe. For some, the disease is fatal."
This year's walk is also a celebration of sorts. The South Eastern New Brunswick Mighty Drivers' are pleased with five of its chapter's children, who were not expected to live past the age of 14, but graduated from high school this year.
A dedicated team plans the walk each year and although as many as 30 wheel chairs may be spotted amongst the participants, the majority are family members and friends who come out to support the cause and have fun.
"The Muscular Dystrophy Annual Walk is really a family day where we all support each other," says Noella McDonald. A participant in the walk since its inception, Noella points out that there have been a few changes this year, which include its location (it is usually on Main Street) and use of the internet.
"For the first time this year, instead of going door to door, some participants have e-mailed an online link for donations to family and friends," Noella explains. "It has worked very well."
The disease primarily affects children, therefore it was no surprise to see so many youngsters participating. Among them was Alex Fifield, age 10, and Jacob Bourgeois, age 9, both diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy as toddlers.
Lynn Belliveau, the mother of Renelle and Alyssa, who both have Muscular Dystrophy, explains that both parents need to be carriers of this disease in order to produce a child with it.
"Alyssa's diagnosis is how we found out that we were carriers and as such, there were 1 in 4 chances that our second child might have Muscular Dystrophy as well," she explains.
Carrying the banner at the front of the walk was the Gallant family, closely behind Ken Thompson, who played his bagpipes while leading the walk as it set off around the duck pond. Muscular Dystrophy (MD) sometimes gets mistaken for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and vice versa.
"It is for this reason that we have been trying to avoid using its abbreviation (MD)," explains volunteer Nancy O'Brian. "Even medical professionals sometime confuse the two on account of their similar abbreviations."
For more information regarding Muscular Dystrophy or to volunteer, please contact Nancy at 372-1110 or nomdc@nb.sympatico.ca.
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